Michael Saylor. The name is synonymous with Bitcoin maximalism. When he tweets, the market hangs on his every word (or at least, watches closely). His company, Strategy, collects Bitcoin some kind of 21st century Smaug. But while Saylor champions Bitcoin as the key to financial freedom, I can't help but wonder: freedom for whom, and at what cost?

Whose Freedom Are We Talking About?

The story told in support of Bitcoin these days leans heavily into the themes of decentralization, empowerment and liberation from fiat-controlled financial systems. Excellent! Let's connect the dots here. Who actually benefits most from this revolution? Or is it the deeply alarmed tech-savvy elite who already have capital and resources? Or is it the overburdened farmer in Ghana, working every day to ensure his family’s survival?

Saylor’s strategic genius in his conquest for Bitcoin supremacy, while remarkable on the battlefield, threatens to deepen inequalities even further. Imagine a scenario in which Strategy’s oversized investments give them undue influence over the Bitcoin network. This outcome would basically recreate the same concentrated, centralized power structures that Bitcoin was created to escape. This isn’t freedom, this is just a ponzification of the shuffling of the deck, with the same players sitting on all the aces.

Take Ghana, or indeed any developing country. Bitcoin’s volatility is a feature, not a bug—and for some investors, the more volatile the better. For a family struggling to make it day-to-day, a 30% Bitcoin crash tomorrow would be a disaster. For them, it’s the difference between being able to eat this week or facing hunger. We need to remember that, what looks like an investment opportunity for some, it might be a gamble for others.

Orange Dots and Green Energy Dreams

Saylor’s upcoming purchase, teased by his cryptic “orange dots” tweet, which hinted at yet another huge Bitcoin buy, would likely get some quick buck seeking investors excited. Bob Martin believes Cole’s amendment raises serious questions about the human and environmental impact. Bitcoin mining is an incredibly energy-intensive activity. In developing countries such as Ghana, where access to reliable electricity is limited, this increased energy demand can redirect funds from essential services such as health care and education.

We need to ask ourselves if the promise of financial freedom is worth the cost of environmental degradation and social inequity.

It’s understandable to get swept up in the enthusiasm, particularly during a time when the price of Bitcoin has reached all-time highs. Make sure you don’t miss the hidden costs! Those risks include the project’s carbon footprint, the potential for market manipulation, and the risk of financial ruin to those who can least afford it. The weak performance of Bitcoin year-to-date, attributed to macroeconomic headwinds and tariffs, should be a red flag. As Saylor himself admits, the chaos that fuels Bitcoin’s rise shatters these people’s lives.

Speculation vs. Sustainable Development

This absence of regulatory oversight in the cryptocurrency market is a time bomb just waiting to explode. Saylor’s actions, which were completely legal, would merely encourage the less scrupulous actors to prey upon vulnerable investors. Cryptocurrency is already rife with scams and Ponzi schemes. Without strong regulation, these bad actors are able to set up shop and cause harm with impunity.

Strategy’s remarkable, even jaw-dropping recent stock performance (the stock skyrocketed more than 10% on Friday), has been lackluster so far in 2025. Their average cost basis for Bitcoin is about $67,458. A big enough correction would wipe out all their gains. While some of the more opulent developers might have the ability to weather the storm, most aren’t going to be so lucky—especially smaller investors.

We can’t continue to recklessly pursue Bitcoin profits. Instead, let’s choose smart, sustainable development and financial inclusion strategies that really get us to helping our most vulnerable populations. That starts with investing in educational opportunities, ensuring the success of local businesses, and encouraging prudent financial stewardship. It means providing people with the means to accumulate wealth in an equitable and sustainable manner.

These solutions may not be revolutionary like Bitcoin, but they promise to make more long-term positive changes. Their effect would be much greater in the long term.

  • Microfinance Initiatives: Providing small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
  • Skills Training Programs: Equipping individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the modern economy.
  • Investing in Renewable Energy: Creating jobs and reducing carbon emissions.

Ultimately, the question is not if Bitcoin can provide financial freedom, but if it will – and who for. In many ways, Saylor’s Bitcoin strategy is a high-stakes gamble. Its effects would be felt most acutely by people who are already hurtling down the cliff.

We need to push for a financial innovation that is accountable, responsible, and equitable. Get involved and help us put the needs of the many before the profits of the few! Letting the potential promise of digital riches distract us from the impacts of this highly speculative and mostly unregulated world would be a mistake. The interests of the majority must be weighed, if anything, more heavily than those of the minority.

We need to demand a more responsible and equitable approach to financial innovation, one that prioritizes the needs of the many over the profits of the few. Let's not let the promise of digital riches blind us to the real-world consequences of unchecked speculation. The needs of the many should be balanced, if not over-weighted, against the few.